February 23, 1896 – The Tootsie Roll is invented
In 1896 its founder Leo Hirschfeld, an Austrian immigrant to the United States, started his candy business in a small shop located in New York City.[2] He wanted a "cherry" candy that would not melt easily in the heat, and would be an economical artificial alternative to traditional chocolates.[citation needed] He named the candy after the nickname of his daughter, Clara "Tootsie" Hirschfeld.[2] By 1905, production moved to a five-story factory. In 1917 the name of the company was changed to The Sweets Company of America, and the business became a listed company in 1922. In 1931 the Tootsie Pop—a lollipop with Tootsie Roll filling—was invented. Its low price made it popular in the Depression era. During World War II, Tootsie Rolls became a standard part of American soldiers' field rations, due to the hardiness of the candy under a variety of environmental conditions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tootsie_Roll
